Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-11
MIKE.

Nobody would take little Mike
Markham for a heroine, nor would one
suppose that little quiet figure pos
sessed nerve enough to save hundreds
OF lives by her prompt action, but
this was the way Of it: 1t was q hot
summer afternoon, and the most
absolute quite reigned over the little
railroad station of Parkerstown, up
in northern New England. on these
sweltering July days. Not even the
customary Ioafers were around, and
only at train-time was there any show
OF life.
The down-train was due at $40,
but until then, as the sensational
writer's say, call was quiet as the
grave"
Mike was the station agents daugh-
ter and only child. She was fifteen,
although so small she looked three
years younger, and WAS usually quiet
as a. mouse-"not much zip to her"
as the country folks said. In spite of
the current opinion, however, she had,
except the small portion OF time which
the little country town set apart for
the school season, spent nearly all her
time in the ticket Office with her ia
tiaer. picking up letter by letter and
word by word, the sounds of the Morse
instrument; and, finally, one day she
astonished her father by taking tel
egram by sound, giving him a. neat
''oopy.:"
From that day Mike was installed
as telegraph operator, and the indul-
gent father said "Nixie could run that
office jest as we'll as he could himself
-which,. considering that Mr. Mark
ham was considered by tho boys. "a
plug operator" might be called, a
doubtful compliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon, We
are talking about, the aforesaid
''plug' sauntered into the depot with
trouble enthroned; on his majestic
brow.
"Nick, I'm summoned on a. Jury
case up in Centre Village this after
noon. It's too late to get anybody
here, even s'posing there was any
body to get. What are we going to
do about it? S'pose you can: tend
the concern alone until 1 get back
probably by 81"
II guess so, father" replied Mike.
sThere won't be much of anything to
do. Likely there won't be many pas
sengers for the down train this not
day. and hope I know enough to sell
q ticket or two if there are"
swell, SEQ that those boxes, 60 by
express. The waybills are ready and
in the drawer-guess you'll get along
all RICH" off he went leaving
Mike mistress of the situation-which
phrase meant more. than you might
imagine, that very particular day.
At first she felt her newly acquired
Importance somewhat and stepped
briskly around, busting the musty
little office and watering the few
plants in the window, but there being
absolutely nothing to. do and no one
coming near, she dropped into in
activity and listened to the click. OF
the telegraph instrument. which to
her was as companionable, as the talk
ofnear friends would be. AS the after.
noon passed drowsily along the heat
and stiffness, overcaine her, and Drop
ping her faxen head: on,the desk be-
fore her, she was soon-as~ one of the
good ladies of Parkerstown, was
won't to express tin the arms, OF
Morphine"
i Afterwards, the. first thing she
could: remember about it,, a. voice
seeming to come from her dreams
said: "Taint likely she is,left alone,
and asleep, too
"No," responded another evil voice,
"the old mans probably Troublesome
where-but,'' in q lower tone, "come
on, let's go long. Ths. down train II
be along and we'll just lay EN- out"
Mike was wide awake enough now,
but she had presence OF mind in
her small body. and realized that
I safety lay in Keeping still.
How fur is it up there?"
/ "Sh! Keep mum. Do you want to
knock The hull thing Inv the head, and
I yourself tool" And then the girls
I quickened hearing caught the heavy
footsteps passing; by the window and
on mp the track ~
e. Mike waited until che couldn't
hear the footsteps and then cautious
" turned and looked out of the
window. There they were-two
misunderstanding tramps hasten
ing up the track She recognized
them at once as two men who had
been discharged from q construction
train that had been at work down
The road. What should she doe O,
I Il. 4 a -